Friday, July 8, 2016

In the works for months, CTS' police tribute cab was placed in service this

morning. (Courtesy of CTS)

Today, as news headlines continue to shock us with the
Dallas shooting tragedy, a trucking company in Wisconsin added a truck to its
fleet honoring the nation’s police officers.

Last night Contract Transport Services – CTS – finished the
wrapping of “Honoring the Blue,” semi cab that has been in the works for
months.

The truck was put on the road for the first time this
morning (Friday), announcing that “In the wake of the tragedy in Dallas, CTS’s
new truck is timely to draw attention and appreciation to those that serve our
country and protect us.”

I’d like to share with you their Facebook message, posted by
Curt Reitz, the president of CTS.

"On such a somber day for our
nation, CTS is proud to put in service today our police wrapped truck. Too
often the men and women that work tirelessly day in and day out to protect us
are not recognized for their efforts. We roll out our police truck today, which
will join our fire wrapped truck already in service. At CTS we thank those who
keep our families safe. Our prayers go out to the victims of the Dallas
shooting tragedy. We honor the blue and your sacrifices."

Thursday, July 7, 2016

The law as written protects drivers who stand up for safety
concerns and do the right thing – at least on paper. But the slow pace of
justice pushes enforcement so far into the future that the law is often little
or no help to an individual driver.

Last month, for example, the Occupational Safety and Health
Administration (OSHA) announced in a press release that a major carrier had
been ordered to pay back wages to a driver the company had fired (FMCSA refers
cases of wrongful termination to OSHA, which enforces “whistle blower” workplace
rules).

Back pay amounted to $126,870 plus $50,000 for compensatory
damages and $100,000 punitive damages. But we’ll come back to the subject of
money.

My interest was drawn to the time this case had taken. The
driver had been fired in 2012 – four years earlier. That’s the time it takes a
toddler to reach kindergarten or a teenage child to enter and finish high
school.

According to OSHA, the average time from complaint to
findings in 2015 was 257 days, roughly eight months. So far this year the
average is 273 days, about nine months.

What does even the narrowest time gap mean to a driver facing
an ethical choice with only minutes to decide?

Tuesday, July 5, 2016

Forrest Lucas is a longtime friend of OOIDA’s, a Land Line reader, a former truck driver
and president and CEO of Lucas Oil Products. Actually, he is still a trucker,
being owner of the Lucas Oil truck fleet. He is one remarkable guy. His
products are everywhere. So is he. At any kind of sporting event, Lucas Oil
sponsorship signs are everywhere.

Lucas Oil Speedway in Missouri, Lucas Oil Stadium in
Indianapolis. MAV-TV. Protect the Harvest. You never know what enterprise he
will be into next. I would not be surprised to see the Lucas Oil logo on any
competitive team anywhere. I would not be surprised to see him sponsor the
youth 12-under marble shooting champs from Indiana.

Still, I was surprised today to get an email that announces
the launch of the first of a slate of movies, produced by guess who.

I had to smile to read that while Forrest is busy running
his oil company and various other enterprises, he along with ESX Entertainment
in Hollywood has produced a movie called “The Dog Lover” that will air
nationwide.

It features James Remar, Lea Thompson, Jason Blair, Sherry
Stringfield, Christina Moore and Allison Paige. It’s described as “a dramatic
thriller about a passionate animal rights activist who goes undercover at a
dog-breeding facility, where the owner is suspected of inhumane treatment of
animals.”

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